Patents by Inventor Mark Allen Johnson

Mark Allen Johnson has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11419236
    Abstract: An electronic system includes a rack assembly including a first rail and a second rail defining a first width therebetween and a chassis that supports electronic components and is insertable between the first rail and the second rail. The chassis includes a first side and a second side defining a second width therebetween that is less than the first width. The electronic system further includes a power connector coupled to the chassis and movable between a first position and a second position. The power connector and the second side define a third width when the power connector is in the first position. The power connector and the second side define a fourth width when the power connector is in the second position. The third width is greater than the first width and the fourth width is less than the first width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: ABB Power Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Allen Johnson, Edward Clark Fontana, Charles Edward Higby
  • Patent number: 11305663
    Abstract: A method for charging an electric vehicle includes steps of providing a charger station and providing an electric vehicle operable to navigate to a desired destination autonomously, the vehicle comprising a power receiver configured to mate with the charger station to provide charging to the electric vehicle. The method further includes steps of aligning, via autonomous operation of the electric vehicle, the charger station and the power receiver of the electric vehicle, so as mate the charger station and the power receiver, and initiating charging of the electric vehicle upon mating of the charger station and the power receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Edward Clark Fontana, Mark Allen Johnson
  • Patent number: 11212936
    Abstract: A power connector includes an outer casing couplable to a chassis such that the outer casing is positioned between sides of the chassis. The power connector also includes a body movably coupled to the outer casing. The body is movable between a first position and a second position. The body extends beyond the outer casing when in the first position. The body positioned entirely within the outer casing when in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: ABB Power Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Allen Johnson, Edward Clark Fontana, Charles Edward Higby
  • Patent number: 10566788
    Abstract: A redundant boost circuit configured to compensate for a voltage drop between a power supply and a plurality of loads is provided. The redundant boost circuit includes a first compensator module and a second compensator module. The first compensator module includes a first primary boost circuit and a first secondary boost circuit. The second compensator module includes a second primary boost circuit and a second secondary boost circuit. The first primary boost circuit and the second secondary boost circuit are electrically coupleable between the power supply and a first load. The second primary boost circuit and the first secondary boost circuit are electrically coupleable between the power supply and a second load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Mark Allen Johnson, Brandon Michael Kamphaus, Edward Clark Fontana
  • Patent number: 10374421
    Abstract: A controller for use in a line voltage drop compensation system is provided. The controller includes a processing device and a memory device coupled to the processing device. The controller is configured to determine a resistance of a power transmission line, the resistance of the power transmission line determined at least partially based on a plurality of characteristics of a load and the transmission line. The controller is also configured to generate a control signal to control an output voltage of a boost circuit, the output voltage determined at least partially based on the determined resistance of the power transmission line. The controller is further configured to transmit the control signal to the boost circuit to cause the boost circuit to generate an output voltage to compensate for the voltage drop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Mark Allen Johnson, Edward Clark Fontana, James Edward Harvey, Brandon Michael Kamphaus
  • Publication number: 20190082554
    Abstract: An electronic system includes a rack assembly including a first rail and a second rail defining a first width therebetween and a chassis that supports electronic components and is insertable between the first rail and the second rail. The chassis includes a first side and a second side defining a second width therebetween that is less than the first width. The electronic system further includes a power connector coupled to the chassis and movable between a first position and a second position. The power connector and the second side define a third width when the power connector is in the first position. The power connector and the second side define a fourth width when the power connector is in the second position. The third width is greater than the first width and the fourth width is less than the first width.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2018
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Inventors: Mark Allen Johnson, Edward Clark Fontana, Charles Edward Higby
  • Publication number: 20190082553
    Abstract: An electronic system includes a rack assembly including a first rail and a second rail defining a first width therebetween and a chassis that supports electronic components and is insertable between the first rail and the second rail. The chassis includes a first side and a second side defining a second width therebetween that is less than the first width. The electronic system further includes a power connector coupled to the chassis and movable between a first position and a second position. The power connector and the second side define a third width when the power connector is in the first position. The power connector and the second side define a fourth width when the power connector is in the second position. The third width is greater than the first width and the fourth width is less than the first width.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2018
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Inventors: Mark Allen Johnson, Edward Clark Fontana, Charles Edward Higby
  • Patent number: 10130000
    Abstract: An electronic system includes a rack assembly including a first rail and a second rail defining a first width therebetween and a chassis that supports electronic components and is insertable between the first rail and the second rail. The chassis includes a first side and a second side defining a second width therebetween that is less than the first width. The electronic system further includes a power connector coupled to the chassis and movable between a first position and a second position. The power connector and the second side define a third width when the power connector is in the first position. The power connector and the second side define a fourth width when the power connector is in the second position. The third width is greater than the first width and the fourth width is less than the first width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Mark Allen Johnson, Edward Clark Fontana, Charles Edward Higby
  • Publication number: 20180272875
    Abstract: A method for charging an electric vehicle includes steps of providing a charger station and providing an electric vehicle operable to navigate to a desired destination autonomously, the vehicle comprising a power receiver configured to mate with the charger station to provide charging to the electric vehicle. The method further includes steps of aligning, via autonomous operation of the electric vehicle, the charger station and the power receiver of the electric vehicle, so as mate the charger station and the power receiver, and initiating charging of the electric vehicle upon mating of the charger station and the power receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Edward Clark Fontana, Mark Allen Johnson
  • Publication number: 20180275711
    Abstract: A controller for use in a line voltage drop compensation system is provided. The controller includes a processing device and a memory device coupled to the processing device. The controller is configured to determine a resistance of a power transmission line, the resistance of the power transmission line determined at least partially based on a plurality of characteristics of a load and the transmission line. The controller is also configured to generate a control signal to control an output voltage of a boost circuit, the output voltage determined at least partially based on the determined resistance of the power transmission line. The controller is further configured to transmit the control signal to the boost circuit to cause the boost circuit to generate an output voltage to compensate for the voltage drop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Mark Allen Johnson, Edward Clark Fontana, James Edward Harvey, Brandon Michael Kamphaus
  • Publication number: 20180278054
    Abstract: A redundant boost circuit configured to compensate for a voltage drop between a power supply and a plurality of loads is provided. The redundant boost circuit includes a first compensator module and a second compensator module. The first compensator module includes a first primary boost circuit and a first secondary boost circuit. The second compensator module includes a second primary boost circuit and a second secondary boost circuit. The first primary boost circuit and the second secondary boost circuit are electrically coupleable between the power supply and a first load. The second primary boost circuit and the first secondary boost circuit are electrically coupleable between the power supply and a second load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Mark Allen Johnson, Brandon Michael Kamphaus, Edward Clark Fontana
  • Publication number: 20180102631
    Abstract: An electronic system includes a rack assembly including a first rail and a second rail defining a first width therebetween and a chassis that supports electronic components and is insertable between the first rail and the second rail. The chassis includes a first side and a second side defining a second width therebetween that is less than the first width. The electronic system further includes a power connector coupled to the chassis and movable between a first position and a second position. The power connector and the second side define a third width when the power connector is in the first position. The power connector and the second side define a fourth width when the power connector is in the second position. The third width is greater than the first width and the fourth width is less than the first width.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2016
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Inventors: Mark Allen Johnson, Edward Clark Fontana, Charles Edward Higby
  • Patent number: 9548871
    Abstract: A power system is provided. The power system includes a communications bus and a plurality of modules communicatively coupled to the communications bus. Each of the plurality of modules is configured to continuously monitor the communications bus, transmit a modulated signal at a predetermined frequency when the module detects an incoherent signal on the communications bus, become a master module when the module detects a coherent signal at the predetermined frequency on the communications bus, and cease transmitting the modulated signal when the coherent signal is not detected after a period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Mark Allen Johnson
  • Patent number: 9490634
    Abstract: An exemplary power distribution system includes multiple power modules and a controller. The multiple power modules are coupled in parallel to supply power to a load. The controller is configured to provide a total number of the power modules and unique numbers to each member of the power modules. At least a member of the multiple power modules is set up to independently determine its own ON status and OFF status based on the total number and the unique numbers when the power distribution system is in operation, wherein an ONthreshold in association with a corresponding unique number is determined to decide its own ON status. A method for operating the power distribution and an energy distribution system are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Juan Zhang, Ming Fu, Mark Allen Johnson
  • Publication number: 20160020695
    Abstract: An exemplary power distribution system includes multiple power modules and a controller. The multiple power modules are coupled in parallel to supply power to a load. The controller is configured to provide a total number of the power modules and unique numbers to each member of the power modules. At least a member of the multiple power modules is set up to independently determine its own ON status and OFF status based on the total number and the unique numbers when the power distribution system is in operation, wherein an ONthreshold in association with a corresponding unique number is determined to decide its own ON status. A method for operating the power distribution and an energy distribution system are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventors: Juan ZHANG, Ming Fu, Mark Allen Johnson
  • Publication number: 20140258573
    Abstract: A power system is provided. The power system includes a communications bus and a plurality of modules communicatively coupled to the communications bus. Each of the plurality of modules is configured to continuously monitor the communications bus, transmit a modulated signal at a predetermined frequency when the module detects an incoherent signal on the communications bus, become a master module when the module detects a coherent signal at the predetermined frequency on the communications bus, and cease transmitting the modulated signal when the coherent signal is not detected after a period of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventor: MARK ALLEN JOHNSON
  • Patent number: D707600
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Mark Allen Johnson
  • Patent number: D710760
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Mark Allen Johnson
  • Patent number: D715707
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Mark Allen Johnson
  • Patent number: D723724
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Mark Allen Johnson